Process for acidic cleaning in the beer industry

Abstract

The present invention relates to the acidic cleaning in the beer industry, and more particularly an improved process for acidic cleaning of the various elements and vessels that are used in the preparation of beer and other and other related fermented beverages, said cleaning being carried out by using a formulation comprising at least one alkane sulphonic acid.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for one stage acidic washing to eliminate both beer stone and yeast ring stains in a beer fermentor comprising the steps of:
 a) pre-washing the fermentor by circulation of an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide to remove impurities; 
 b) washing the fermentor containing both beer stone and yeast ring stains by circulation in said fermentor of an effective quantity of an aqueous cleaning formulation to remove the yeast ring stains located at aeration/liquid interfaces and beer stone located on bottom and sides of the fermentor, consisting of 0.5 to 20 weight % methane sulphonic acid, in solution, as the cleaning agent; one or more organic acids; and one or more additives selected from the group consisting of rheological additives, solvents, biocides and other texture agents, co-solvents, inorganic acids, thickening agents, surface-active agents, foaming agents, anti-foaming agents, and mixtures thereof at a temperature between 5° C. and 40° C. for a sufficient time to allow complete removal of the yeast ring stain and beer stone from the surfaces of the beer fermentor; and 
 c) then rinsing said fermentor by circulation of a rinsing solution. 
 
     
     
       2. The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the fermentor comprises a beer fermentation tank. 
     
     
       3. The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning formulation comprises from 0.5 to 5 weight % of methane sulphonic acid. 
     
     
       4. The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said inorganic acids are selected from sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid, or sulphamic acid. 
     
     
       5. The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the washing of the fermentor by circulation is carried out at a temperature ranging between 5° C. and 20° C. 
     
     
       6. The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the washing of the fermentor by circulation is carried out a temperature between 15° C. and 25° C. 
     
     
       7. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more organic acids comprise citric acid. 
     
     
       8. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-washing step is carried out with a 1.5% aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide. 
     
     
       9. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous cleaning formulation comprises from 4 g/L to 12 g/L of methane sulphonic acid. 
     
     
       10. A process for one stage acidic wash cleaning of both beer stone and yeast ring stains present in a fermentor used in the preparation of beer comprising the steps of:
 a) optional pre-washing of said fermentor using a dilute alkaline solution remove impurities; 
 b) washing of said fermentor containing both beer stone, located at the bottom and sides of the fermentor, and yeast ring stains, located at aeration/liquid interfaces, by circulating in said fermentor of an aqueous cleaning formulation consisting of 0.5 to 20 weight % methane sulphonic acid, in solution, as the cleaning agent; one or more organic acids; and one or more additives selected from the group consisting of rheological additives, solvents, biocides and other texture agents, co-solvents, inorganic acids, thickening agents, surface-active agents, foaming agents, anti-foaming agents, and mixtures thereof; and 
 c) then rinsing said fermentor by circulating water after removal of the yeast ring stains and beer stones. 
 
     
     
       11. The process according to  claim 10 , wherein the washing of the fermentor by circulating results in elimination of the beer stone and yeast ring stains at the same time in the single stage. 
     
     
       12. The process according to  claim 10 , wherein the washing of the fermentor by circulating is carried out a temperature between 15° C. and 25° C. 
     
     
       13. The process according to  claim 10 , wherein the aqueous cleaning formulation comprises from 0.5 to 90 weight % of methane sulphonic acid. 
     
     
       14. A process for elimination of both beer stone and yeast ring stains in containers used for the preparation of beer comprising washing the container having both beer stone and yeast ring stains by circulation at ambient temperatures with an aqueous formulation consisting of 0.1 to 90 weight % methane sulphonic acid, in solution, as the cleaning agent; one or more organic acids; and one or more additives selected from the group consisting of rheological additives, solvents, biocides and other texture agents, co-solvents, inorganic acids, thickening agents, surface-active agents, foaming agents, anti-foaming agents, and mixtures thereof, wherein the washing results in the elimination of the beer stone and yeast ring stains at the same time in a single stage. 
     
     
       15. The process of  claim 14 , wherein the container comprises tanks, vessels, barrels, bottles, cans, or a beer kit fermentor container. 
     
     
       16. The process according to  claim 15 , wherein the washing by circulation is carried out in barrels, bottles, or cans. 
     
     
       17. The process of  claim 14 , wherein the aqueous formulation comprises from 0.5 to 5 weight % of methane sulphonic acid.